There hardly seems to be enough days between Twelfth Night and Mardi Gras each year to sample all the varieties of king cake coming out of local bakeries. If you haven’t fully made the rounds yet, an event on Saturday has you covered.

More than 20 bakeries have signed up to compete in the fifth annual NOLA Eats King Cake Tasting Party, Feb. 9, 6 to 9 p.m. at the Little Gem Saloon, 445 S. Rampart St.

The bakeries will go head to head in traditional and non-traditional categories. Competitors include popular classic bakeries such as Haydel's, Gambino's, Nonna Randazzo, Manny Randazzo, Antoine's Famous Cakes and Adrian's Bakery, among others. The non-traditional category will feature such envelope-pushing options as Cake Café & Bakery’s goat cheese and apple king cake, Domenica’s caramel-banana tour de force and a gluten-free vegan variety from the Peace Baker. Attendees will be able to vote for their favorites.

The event’s non-edible entertainment also is a draw. Vocalist Robin Barnes, guitarist Matthew Berman and the Star-Steppin’ Cosmonaughties will perform.

The tasting party started out as a small gathering five years ago, and it's grown exponentially since then. About 100 people turned out last year to sample and vote their way around the room.

This time, the tasting falls on Endymion Saturday, a scheduling move necessitated by the mid-season pause in parades due to the Super Bowl. But the date might be a brilliant move by organizer Leslie Almeida. She points out, Little Gem is just a few blocks from the parade route and it has clean bathrooms.

Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door and can be purchased online here.

Watch a Propaganda New Orleans video of Domenica pastry chef Lisa White making her caramel-banana king cake.